Batching plant



March 10, 1964 H. w. MAIER ETAL 3,124,272

BATCHING PLANT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE PREPARATION OF CONCRETE WITH ACCRECATEs AND CONCRETE BINDERS Filed Sept. 2, 1960 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 5.

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BATCHING PLANT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE PREPARATION OF CONCRETE WITH AGGREGATES AND CONCRETE BINDERS Filed Sept. 2, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS HARTMUT W. MAIER ERNST KUHNER BY W 22 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ()fifice 3,124,272 Patented Mar. 10., 1964 fabrilr G.rn.b.H., Ettlingen, Baden, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Sept. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 53,803 Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 5, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 222-77) The present invention relates to a batching plant, particularly for the preparation of concrete with aggregates and concrete binders for feeding granular components of concrete mixtures and portions of binders of other material to a receiving container, which device is suitable to a fast change to different building sites.

Devices for the preparation of concrete which comprises storage arrangements for the enriching material, a silo for binde a batching device and a mixer are already known in form of different embodiments.

In these devices the added materials, as sand or gravel of different granulations, are either stored in high bunkers or arranged on the ground in sector-shaped, divided stores which are disposed around the batching plant. The corresponding proportions of the added material are fed to a measuring container for the volumetric measuring or to a weigh bin for the determination of the weight by means of bunker closures or outlets, which are provided in the batching plant, and then fed to a mixer.

It has been found that these devices have the drawback that the batching plant, which is erected at the building site in the form of a tower, mostly of concrete, is immovable and, for this reason, cannot be transported to another building site within a comparatively short time.

In order to avoid this drawback, different arrangements have been made for batchers having storage spaces for the added material on the ground, wherein the batchers are mounted on a running gear and are thus movable from one place to another.

In this arrangement difficulties are encountered, however, in view of the possible height of the batcher, which is now subjected to the safety ordinances applicable for vehicles. For the actual function of the batcher at the building site, which should permit the highest possible accumulation of aggregates for the concrete, this limitation is uneconomical and, for this reason, no movable batching plants have been accepted in this particular field.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a batching plant, particularly for the preparation of concrete with aggregates and concrete binders, wherein a movable batcher is designed in such manner that the height necessary for the storing of sufficient quantities of aggregates is available at the building site. Simultaneously, the maximum permissible cross-profile for road transportation according to safety ordinances could not be overstepped and the feeding device provided on the batcher is supposed to remain on its place during transportation for the purpose of saving of mounting work.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a batching plant, particularly for the preparation of concrete with aggregates and concrete binders, which comprises a base plate having outlet openings, which base plate is disposed on a frame equipped with a detachable running gear, the frame carrying simultaneously a weighing device which has a removable weighing bin for the aggregates.

Supports formed of pairs of sectional irons are also disposed on the base plate, the walls for the storing spaces being arranged up to the vertical median axis of the base plate between the supports, so that sector-shaped storing 2 places are created for the aggregates, the batching plant with its closable outlet openings projecting upwardly in the center point of the storing places.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a batching plant, particularly for the preparation of concrete with aggregate and concrete binders, wherein the supports are divided along a horizontal plane and designed in such manner that their upper portions are moved telescopically into their lower portions during the transportation thereof and are extended again upon arrival at the building site, for instance by any conventional hydraulic means.

By this arrangement it is achieved that the batcher even with the mounted feeding device is appreciably lower than the maximum height permissible for road transportation, thus providing a tremendous additional measure of transportation safety, and that the readiness for operation of the batcher at the building site is brought about by simplest means and within the shortest possible time, and that the weighing bin forming the measuring container for the aggregates does not require a larger size than that necessary for the prevailing concrete mixture. By this arrangement the pit for the lifting bucket of the concrete mixing machine, which runs below the weighing bin, must not be unnecessarily deep and also not arranged with superfluous means.

It has been found as particularly advantageous that in spite of the arrangement of the measuring container above ground and in spite of the possibility of transportation of the batching plant, designed in accordance with the present invention, within the safety limits provided for road transportation, the same storage quantities can be maintained as in similar non-transportable batching plants, due to the telescopic movability of the supports of the batcher for the separating Walls of the storage for the aggregates.

A further advantage is brought about in such manner that the feeding arrangement for the batcher, for instance a hand winch or a known arm with winches for a rope drive can remain on the batching plant during transportation, and thus does not need demounting with the necessary labor prior to the transportation, and does not need assembling again at the building site.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the batching plant, designed in accordance with the present invention, in operative position, partly in section, the feeding device being removed for better demonstration;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the batching plant shown in FIG. 1 in combination with the feeding arrangement in transporting position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the plant in transporting position;

FIG. 4 is a section through the telescopically collapsed supports for the separation walls of the storage compartments; and

FIG. 5 is a section along the lines 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the batcher, designed in accordance with the present invention comprises substantially a foundation frame 1, supporting a base plate 5, which is equipped with discharge closures 6 for the aggregates, a weighing device including a weigh bin, a plurality of supports 12. and 13 to receive the separating walls 10, 10 1d of the storing spaces and an upper closing frame 15 for the support of the feeding device 16.

The batcher is shown in FIG. 1 in operative or working position, and is shown removed from the running gear clearly disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The base plate 5 is supported by the foundation frame 1, the base plate 5 having the discharge closures 6.

At least three sides 1 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the foundation frame 1, which are pointed towards the stores of the aggregates, are disposed in planes which are inclined inwardly in upper direction, and the edge formation 5' of the base plate 5 is flanged downwardly. The inclined sides 1' of the foundation frame 1 are formed by planks 8 and the uppermost of these planks S is inserted between the foundation frame 1 and the flange formation 5 of the base plate 5. The planks 8 cover the foundation frame 1 at least on three sides, to protect the inner space of the foundation frame 1 against the aggregates stored in known manner in sector-shaped stores. The planks 8 are arranged in superposed position by inter-engaging the narrow longitudinal end portions of each pair of adjacent planks 8, in order to dispose each of the planks 8 on top of the previous plank 8. As clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the uppermost plank is overlapped by the flanged portion 5' of the base plate 5, and no particular securing means are required on the foundation frame 1 to retain the uppermost plank 8 in position.

The base plate 5 carries a plurality of preferably U- shaped sectional irons, forming the supports 12 and 13, the lower ends of which are fortified by the arrangement of gussets 9 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Each of the supports 12 and 13 comprises a pair of sectional irons, the bottom faces of which point towards each other and which are spaced apart from each other, permitting the insertion of planks 31, 31 and 31 respectively, forming separating walls 16 of the respective sector-shaped stores. The supports are divided vertically at least once or several times, so that their upper parts 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 can telescope into the lower parts 13, in order to transform the batcher from its operative or working position to its transporting position, after the planks f the separating walls 10 have been removed.

Upon raising the upper parts 12 of the supports from their corresponding lower parts 13, to assume the operative or working position of the batcher, the upper parts 12 are retained in their lifted position by means of screws or any other suitable securing means provided substantially at the separating point 11 of the supports.

In the working position of the batcher, shown in FIG. 1, planks 31, 31' and 31 of the separating walls 10, 11) and 10 respectively, are inserted through the supports 12 and 13 to such an extent that they abut each other substantially along an imaginary vertical center line disposed in about the center of the batcher and they limit, thereby, the preferably sector-shaped storage spaces inside of the batcher.

As stated above, a closing frame 15 is disposed on top of and supported by the supports 12 and 13. A feeding device 16 of conventional structure is disposed on and carried by the frame 15, and since the feeding device is of conventional nature, FIG. 2 shows merely by example and schematically one known feeding device, since the structure of the feeding device 16 is not the subject matter of the present invention. The feeding device 16 has in known manner the function to move the aggregates stored in the storage spaces surrounding the batching plant towards the batcher, so that these aggregates can be fed by gravity through the discharge closures 6 of the base plate into the weighing bin 20.

In the transporting position of the batcher, that is upon telescoping downwardly the parts 12 into the parts 13 of the supports, the feeding device 16 can remain on the batcher, so it is lowered together with the downward telescoping of the parts 12 of the supports, without requiring a demounting or disassembling of the feeding device. The feeding device 16 is turned about the horizontally disposed axle 16' on which it is mounted and then secured in substantially horizontal position by means of an L-shaped rod 17 to function as holding means, which is screwed, or by any other suitable means, attached to one of the supports 13. Only in those instances where the feeding device is equipped with a comparatively long arm, such arm, or a part thereof, is removed, while the main part of the feeding device remains supported on the closing frame 15 in turned position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

A weighing device 18 is disposed in the hollow space defined within the foundation frame 1 between its supports 12, 13, and the weighing bin 20 is exchangeably mounted on the flanges 20' of the suspending frame 21. The weighing device 18 is equipped with an indicating instrument 28 (FIG. 2). The lower part of the gravity fed tube 22 for the concrete binder is movable in vertical direction with the weighing bin 20 by means of a bellows-shaped collar 23 and easily releasably secured to the tube portion 22', which is rigidly secured to the foundation frame 1. The tube portion 22', which is rigidly secured to the foundation frame 1 leads into a funnel-shaped gravity fed tube 33, on which the Weighing device (not shown) for the cement is mounted. The volume of the weighing bin 20 can be adjusted to the volume of a concrete mixer by exchanging the lower portion thereof. The supports 24 and 25 of the foundation frame 1, which also serve as frame extensions and are disposed below the main frame body 1, are exchangeable in such manner that the inner space defined in the foundation frame 1 can be enlarged or reduced. By this arrangement, the size of the inner space defined by the foundation frame 1 can be adjusted to the volume of the weighing bin 20 and, thus, the entire batching plant can be adjusted to the prevailing requirements for the particular building site.

The batching plant, designed in accordance with the present invention, operates in the following manner:

Upon removal of the running gear, consisting of the parts 2, 3 and 4 (FIGS. 2 and 3), the foundation frame 1 is mounted on the frame extensions 24 and 25, which may be of different lengths. Then the weighing bin 20, which has been removed during transportation, is again flanged to and suspended by the suspending frame 21 of the weighing device 18. The tube portion 22 for the binder is then connected with the immovable part of the gravity fed tube 22'. Then the supports 12 and 13 of the batcher 7 are moved from their transportation position, shown in FIG. 2, into the operative position, shown in FIG. 1, in which the supports 12 slide upwardly from the supports 13. Simultaneously, the inclined sides of the foundation frame 1 are covered with planks 8, and the planks 31, 31 and 31 of the separating Walls 10, 10 and 10 respectively, are inserted into the space between the supports 12 and 13, thus forming the sector-shaped storage spaces shown in FIG. 5, around the batcher.

The feeding device 16, of any conventional structure, which assumed, during the transportation of the batching plant, a horizontal position and was, during the transportation, supported by the frame 15, is shifted into an inclined, operative position, upon removal of the L- shaped rod 17 by loosening the screw bolts extending through the rod 17. Now the filling of the aggregates can take place into the respective sector-shaped storage spaces (not shown) surrounding the batching plant, by means of suitable transportation means of conventional nature. The feeding device 16 feeds now the aggregates from the respective storage spaces to the batcher, and the batching plant is then in operation. Either manually or automatically controlled by the weighing bin 20, the first outlet closure 6 of the base plate 5 is open, and the aggregate which has been removed from the corresponding storage space, flows into the weighing bin 20. By observation of the indicator 28 of the weighing bin 20 or by automatic control (not shown), the other outlet closures 6 of the base plate 5 are operated until all aggregates have been fed from the storage places in the predetermined weight relation into the weighing bin 20. In the meantime, by suitable known means, the required amount of the binder has been fed to the weighing device for the cement, and the total charge is ready to be moved to the concrete mixer (not shown), which in known manner is disposed adjacent to the batching plant. Upon opening the closure 29 of the weighing bin 20, the total charge which has been dosed as to its Weight and consists of the different aggregates and cement, is released into the mixer (not shown) where the concrete is prepared.

While we have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

We claim:

1. A batching plant, particularly for the preparation of concrete with aggregates and concrete binders, comprising a foundation frame, a base plate supported by said foundation frame and having a plurality of outlets, closure means on each of said outlets, a plurality of pairs of supports carried by and projecting upwardly from said base plate such that the bases of said supports of each pair thereof are disposed opposite each other, an upper frame mounted on top of said supports to define jointly with the latter an open structure, a plurality of horizontally disposed planks arranged substantially vertically in superposed position and extending through said structure between corresponding pairs of said supports up to a predetermined level, said supports of each pair thereof being spaced apart for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said planks, said planks forming separating walls for storage compartments for said aggregates surrounding the batching plant, each of said supports being formed of telescoping sectional irons of channel cross-section and consisting of upper parts and lower parts, each of said upper parts sliding telescopically into the corresponding of said lower parts, said upper frame being adapted to support feeding means to move said aggregates from said storage compartment toward said f5 batching plant, and a weighing bin removably supported by said foundation frame and adapted to batch said aggregates according to the weight required for the mixture of said concrete.

2. The batching plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said foundation frame includes exchangeable supports of different lengths carrying said base plate, in order to arrange said base plate at any predetermined height.

3. The batching plant, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said exchangeable support-s are inclined at least on three sides of said base plate and the latter has at least at three sides thereof downwardly inclined flanged edge forma tions, said three inclined sides being adapted to receive a plurality of planks arranged in superposed position in order to protect the inner space of said foundation frame.

4. The batching plant, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a removable running gear removably supporting said foundation frame upon removal of said weighing bin and of said frame supports and upon telescoping said upper parts into the corresponding of said lower parts of said first-mentioned supports.

5. The batching plant, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a holding means adapted to maintain a feeding means in substantially horizontal position during transportation of said batching plant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,757 Davis et al. Dec. 10, 1878 699,328 Johnstone May 6, 1902 1,960,160 Lousa May 22, 1934 2,493,898 Pollitz Jan. 10, 1950 2,687,285 Fisher Aug. 24, 1954 3,050,159 Paulus et al. Aug. 21, 1962 

1. A BATCHING PLANT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE PREPARATION OF CONCRETE WITH AGGREGATES AND CONCRETE BINDERS, COMPRISING A FOUNDATION FRAME, A BASE PLATE SUPPORTED BY SAID FOUNDATION FRAME AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTLETS, CLOSURE MEANS ON EACH OF SAID OUTLETS, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF SUPPORTS CARRIED BY AND PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE PLATE SUCH THAT THE BASES OF SAID SUPPORTS OF EACH PAIR THEREOF ARE DISPOSED OPPOSITE EACH OTHER, AN UPPER FRAME MOUNTED ON TOP OF SAID SUPPORTS TO DEFINE JOINTLY WITH THE LATTER AN OPEN STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED PLANKS ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY IN SUPERPOSED POSITION AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID STRUCTURE BETWEEN CORRESPONDING PAIRS OF SAID SUPPORTS UP TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, SAID SUPPORTS OF EACH PAIR THEREOF BEING SPACED APART FOR A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID PLANKS, SAID PLANKS FORMING SEPARATING WALLS FOR STORAGE COMPARTMENTS FOR SAID AGGREGATES SURROUNDING THE BATCHING PLANT, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS BEING FORMED OF TELESCOPING SECTIONAL IRONS OF CHANNEL CROSS-SECTION AND CONSISTING OF UPPER PARTS AND LOWER PARTS, EACH OF SAID UPPER PARTS SLIDING TELESCOPICALLY INTO THE CORRESPONDING OF SAID LOWER PARTS, SAID UPPER FRAME BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT FEEDING MEANS TO MOVE SAID AGGREGATES FROM SAID STORAGE COMPARTMENT TOWARD SAID BATCHING PLANT, AND A WEIGHING BIN REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FOUNDATION FRAME AND ADAPTED TO BATCH SAID AGGREGATES ACCORDING TO THE WEIGHT REQUIRED FOR THE MIXTURE OF SAID CONCRETE. 